Lift-eye in pocket apparatus and methods

Abstract

An apparatus for shipping goods may include a strut, a first beam, a second beam, a lift-eye housing interfacing with the strut, the first beam, and the second beam, and having an opening facing in the direction of the upper wall, and a lift-eye disposed within the lift-eye housing and configured to support the weight of the apparatus and to pivot from a stowed position within the lift-eye housing to a deployed position where a distal portion of the lift-eye projects out of the lift-eye housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fabricated apparatus having an interior space, comprising:
 a strut; 
 a first beam; 
 a second beam; 
 a lift-eye housing interfacing with the strut and the first beam and the second beam, the lift-eye housing having an opening formed therein, wherein the lift-eye housing is contained entirely within a framework of the strut and the first beam and the second beam so as not to encroach into the interior space of the fabricated apparatus; and 
 a lift-eye, coupled between a set of cheek plates, disposed within the lift-eye housing and configured to support the weight of the fabricated apparatus, the lift-eye being reversibly pivotable between a stowed position within the lift-eye housing and a deployed position where a distal portion of the lift-eye projects out of the opening. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lift-eye housing is disposed directly along a top portion of the strut. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the lift-eye housing comprises an outer wall and an inner wall, the inner wall of the lift-eye housing abutting against and connected to an end portion of the first beam. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the lift-eye housing comprises an end wall that abuts against and is connected to an end portion of the second beam. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a removable pivot pin passing through the lift-eye housing, the lift-eye, and the set of cheek plates. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising an exterior sidewall adjacent the outer wall, wherein the removable pivot pin passes through the exterior sidewall. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the removable pivot pin is accessible from outside the fabricated apparatus. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lift-eye includes a finger-grip slot disposed in the distal portion. 
     
     
       9. A fabricated apparatus, comprising:
 a first exterior sidewall, a second exterior sidewall, and an upper wall intersecting at a corner; 
 a lift-eye housing disposed at the corner and having an outer wall, an inner wall, and an opening facing in the direction of the upper wall; 
 a lift-eye, coupled to a set of cheek plates, disposed within the lift-eye housing, and configured to support the weight of the apparatus, the lift-eye being configured to reversibly pivot between a stowed position within the lift-eye housing and a deployed position where a distal portion of the lift-eye projects out of the opening; and 
 a removable pivot pin extending through the lift-eye housing and the lift-eye, the pivot pin being configured to be accessed from outside the fabricated apparatus. 
 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the removable pivot pin passes through the second exterior sidewall of the fabricated apparatus, and through the outer wall and the inner wall of the lift-eye housing. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 9 , comprising a strut disposed between and supporting the first exterior sidewall and the second exterior sidewall, wherein the lift-eye housing is disposed directly along the top of the strut. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 9 , comprising a first beam disposed between and connecting the first exterior sidewall and the upper wall, wherein the inner wall of the lift-eye housing abuts against an end of the first beam. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 9 , comprising a second beam disposed between and connecting the second exterior sidewall and the upper wall, wherein the outer wall of the lift-eye housing abuts against an end of the second beam. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the lift-eye includes a finger-grip slot disposed in the distal portion. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the lift-eye and set of cheek plates include a pivot pin hole, wherein the pivot pin hole is configured to encompass and help retain the removable pivot pin. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the lift-eye comprises an operation hole, wherein the operation hole is configured to enable connection between the lift-eye and a connecting device. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the lift-eye is removable from the lift-eye housing by removing the removable pivot pin from the lift-eye housing and the lift-eye. 
     
     
       18. A fabricated apparatus having an interior space, comprising:
 a strut; 
 a first beam; 
 a second beam; 
 a lift-eye housing interfacing with the strut and the first beam and the second beam, the lift-eye housing having an opening formed therein; and 
 a lift-eye, coupled to a set of cheek plates, disposed within the lift-eye housing, and configured to support the weight of the fabricated apparatus, the lift-eye being reversibly pivotable between a stowed position within the lift-eye housing and a deployed position where a distal portion of the lift-eye projects out of the opening. 
 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the lift-eye housing is disposed directly along a top portion of the strut. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the lift-eye housing comprises an outer wall and an inner wall, the inner wall of the lift-eye housing abutting against and connected to an end portion of the first beam. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of  claim 20 , further comprising a removable pivot pin passing through the lift-eye housing, the lift-eye, and the set of cheek plates. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the removable pivot pin is accessible from outside the fabricated apparatus.